God’s Favor to Zion

2 And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ² So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” ³ And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, ⁴ and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it. ⁵ For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

⁶ “^[a]Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. ⁷ “Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape, ^[b]you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!” ⁸ For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After ^[c]glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. ⁹ Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. ¹⁰ Sing for joy and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord. ¹¹ Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.^{(A) 12} The Lord will take possession of Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

¹³ “Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”^(B)